| Initial Results of PACleanSweep Poll |
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Reformers Overwhelmingly Support Constitutional Convention
A vast majority of respondents to an ongoing informal
poll conducted by PACleanSweep support a
constitutional convention in Pennsylvania. The survey
was launched by the group to gauge initial citizen
reaction to the idea and to coincide with a Thursday
hearing by the Senate State Government Committee
on the issue in Pittsburgh.
As of noon Tuesday, 92 percent of respondents
indicated support for a convention. 90 percent
indicated their preference for a “general” convention,
free of limitations set by the General Assembly, but
that sentiment was mitigated by the potential for a
review of Article I, the Declaration of Rights.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would be
less likely to support a convention if it included a
review of Article I. Only 16 percent supported
including Article I, while 17 percent were undecided.
During the last “general” convention held in
Pennsylvania in 1873, Article I was excluded from
consideration by the authorizing Act of the General
Assembly.
The respondents also showed a clear preference for a
convention free of influence from elected officials and
political parties. 96 percent opposed elected officials
serving as delegates to a convention and 97 percent
opposed allowing elected officials to appoint
delegates. 97 percent said they would be more likely
to support a convention if delegates were selected in
non-partisan fashion, free of any influence from local
political party committees.
At the limited constitutional convention held in 1968,
local Republican and Democratic Party committees
each nominated two delegate candidates to
represent their state Senate district. Citizens not
affiliated with the two major parties wishing to
become delegates were required to gather signatures
from 500 voters and pay a fee to obtain ballot access.
Voters were then permitted to vote for no more than
two delegates, and the three highest vote getters in
each Senate district were elected to the convention.
No non-Republicans or non-Democrats were among
the 150 elected delegates to the convention.
Additionally, 13 elected officials, mostly legislative
leaders, served as ex-officio delegates.
“This survey is not scientific by any means, but it is a
great indicator of the feelings of nearly 800 citizens
across the Commonwealth who have paid close
attention to state government since the pay raise of
July 2005,” said Russ Diamond, PACleanSweep’s
founder. “We’re hoping that those in government who
are examining the issue will take note of this
sentiment, and perhaps some professional pollsters
will address the convention issue in the future.
“While a convention wouldn’t guarantee any
particular changes to our most fundamental law, it’s
clear that reform-minded Pennsylvanians want to
discuss possible changes to improve the structure of
government in Pennsylvania. It’s also clear that if the
discussion is held, they don’t want elected officials or
party bosses doing the talking.”
View the PACleanSweep poll...
Current PA Constitution...
History of PA's Constitution...
About PACleanSweep.com
PACleanSweep.com is a non-partisan effort dedicated
to returning honor, dignity and integrity to
government in Pennsylvania. For more information,
please visit
www.PACleanSweep.com.
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